Here’s the first promo for Season 4 of HBO’s “Big Love” (premiering January 10th), and even if you like the show, you have to admit that this spot is lazy and ridiculous and crappy. I’ll award a few points for the Interpol song, but the rest of it is just Bill Paxton and his three screen wives floating around in black space. At least the lousy promo for “Friday Night Lights” had special effects.

There are a lot of people who love “Big Love,” and I’ll admit that it’s well-written and -acted, but I’m never going to watch more than an episode here or there. It’s fundamentally flawed for me in two aspects: (1) It’s an unrealistic portrayal of plural marriage, as the polygamous sects rooted in Mormon theology often partake in what us normal folk would call “statutory rape” and “sex slavery” (read Under the Banner of Heaven if you don’t agree). And (2) Jesus H. Christ is Chloe Sevigny ugly. How can people even look directly at her? Isn’t Hollywood supposed to favor attractive women? I don’t understand why she keeps getting work. She looks like her face caught fire and someone put it out with a wet chain.

I just don’t understand this site. You like Kristen Wiig and don’t like Big Love. We share enough common ground that I keep coming back, but wow, am I disappointed.

11.27.09 at 6:57 pm

Jonathan

I’ve got to hand it to you, Matt, your reason #1 above succinctly describes why I don’t/won’t watch this show. And yeah, I read UTBOH. I’m sure there may be some plural marriages out there like the one depicted on this show, but it’s kinda like making a show about the plantation era south & focusing on a group of slaves who were well treated & had a profit-sharing arrangement with the owner.

11.28.09 at 12:55 pm

La Schmoove

I’d only watch the show for Tripplehorn. I want to put it in her butt.

11.28.09 at 4:02 pm

Rebecca

Thanks, Jonathan. You said exactly what I was too buzzed on cider and full of stuffing to say.

11.30.09 at 4:49 pm

Chris

They acknowledge that the people on the compound engage in statutory rape and the sex trade. It was a major plot point last season, and looks to remain one going forward.

11.30.09 at 9:38 pm

OddJohn

Uh, yeah. God forbid it should be suggested that consenting adults could possibly engage in a culturally taboo practice without being mustache twirling child rapists.

Seriously, the hypocrisy of otherwise rational people on this subject astounds me.